PLANNING chiefs look set to reject an application for a massive waste park which campaigners fear could spread toxins over much of Northwich.

And now campaigners say the county council should heed its own advice and not press for an incinerator in the town.

Cheshire County Council will considering the application submitted by Peel Environmental for a 58-hectare resource recovery park at Ince Marsh and a power station fuelled by an incinerator on Monday.

A report from county plan-ners to the Development Regulatory Committee says the application should be rejected because of 'unresolved concerns' over the health impact and because it is 'premature' as the council's Cheshire Replacement Waste Local Plan is still subject to a public inquiry.

The Plan lists a number of sites suitable to treat waste, and has earmarked Lostock as being suitable for an energy-from-waste plant, or incinerator, at Brunner Mond land in Lostock.

Lostock councillor and campaigner Ann McEllin said: 'I find it quite bizarre that officers from Cheshire consider the anxiety of having the threat of an incinerator hanging over the communities around Ince to be a key health factor, yet they are prepared to dismiss such concerns when they relate to Northwich.

'The concept of a resource recovery park is a really good one as we need to start thinking of waste as a resource and not a problem. But the Peel Holdings proposal is too big as it includes a monster 600,000 incinerator and we would end up importing waste from across the North West and beyond.

'The whole point of resource recovery is to reduce waste over time, but an incinerator would set up a long-term demand for waste to keep it running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.'

Peel's application for an energy-from-waste plant at the site will ultimately be determined by the Department of Trade and Industry, rather than local council planners.

Cllr McEllin added: 'There is a democratic deficit in the planning system in that the key component of this application - the incinerator - will not be determined by local people.'

Jonathan Guy of the Cheshire Anti-Incineration Network (CHAIN), said: 'While this is a step in the right direction, we would urge the council to reconsider its overall waste strategy.

'Certain individuals on the council seem wedded to the idea of building an incinerator whatever the cost.'